School pupils compete in new local chess tournament

Enfield Town Schools Partnership was hosting its inaugural chess competition for local schoolchildren

Children take part in the ETSP Chess Tournament 2026

Dozens of local school pupils took part in a new Enfield chess tournament last week.

Enfield Town Schools Partnership (ETSP) hosted its inaugural chess tournament on Friday (19th) at Suffolks Primary School in Enfield Highway, bringing together 65 pupils from seven primary schools across the borough for a morning of friendly competition, learning and achievement.

The event was led by Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) and was also supported by Enfield North MP Feryal Clark, who joined pupils and teachers to celebrate and even play a quick game of chess herself in-between competitive rounds for the kids.

Clark said: “I am incredibly impressed with the ETSP Chess Tournament and the number of children taking part. It was great to see our young children concentrating and exercising their minds.

“I hope to see more children from schools across Enfield taking part in this exciting tournament next year.”

Schools entered teams of up to ten players, with the tournament specifically designed for pupils who were new to competitive chess. While participants were expected to know how the pieces move, there was no minimum level of proficiency required, making the event “accessible to beginners and developing players alike”.

Each competitor played six games throughout the morning. St George’s Primary School eventually achieved the highest overall team score and was crowned ETSP Chess Tournament Champions 2026.

Every participant received a small take home goody in recognition of their involvement and commitment throughout the event.

Andrea Cassius, headteacher at host school Suffolks Primary School, said: “We were thrilled to host our first ETSP Chess Tournament and to welcome so many young players from across our schools.

“The enthusiasm, concentration and sportsmanship shown throughout the morning were fantastic to see. Chess develops critical thinking, resilience and problem-solving skills, and this event provided a wonderful opportunity for pupils to experience competition in a supportive and inclusive environment.

“We are grateful to Chess in Schools and Communities for their expertise and support in making this event such a success.”

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